Aqualia, a comprehensive water cycle management firm, has commenced its operations in Peru following extensive market research aimed at leveraging its expertise in the Andean region. The company has been chosen to oversee the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Chincha, situated 200 kilometers south of Lima in the Ica department.
The project’s primary goal is to ensure proper treatment and management of wastewater produced in seven districts of Chincha province: Chincha Alta, Chincha Baja, Grocio Prado, Pueblo Nuevo, Alto Larán, Sunampe, and Tambo de Mora. Once operational, the facility will enhance the living standards for approximately 345,000 people in the area.
As the project’s contractor, Aqualia will implement and manage about 21 kilometers of main collection networks and pumping lines, establish a pumping station, and build the wastewater treatment plants, along with 7.7 kilometers of lines for the final disposal of treated water. The concession spans 24 years: the first four years dedicated to design, financing, and construction, followed by twenty years for operational management.
ProInversión, the Peruvian agency tasked with promoting private investment, has been instrumental in finding private partners for the construction of the wastewater treatment plant through a public-private partnership model. This initiative, valued at €92 million (excluding VAT), was deemed a priority by ProInversión in early October 2024 and subsequently awarded to Aqualia after the transaction phase.
During a public event on January 7, where the project was awarded to Aqualia, José Salardi, the executive director of ProInversión, remarked that “this concession signifies a significant advancement for public-private partnerships in the sanitation sector, which has awaited the development of wastewater treatment infrastructure for six years.” He added that “the Chincha WWTP is part of a broader portfolio of eight sanitation projects, collectively worth over €1.5 billion, that ProInversión will promote in 2025.”
Advantages for Communities and the Environment
The new facility is set to decrease illnesses linked to untreated wastewater, thereby enhancing public health and living conditions for residents in these districts. Furthermore, effective wastewater treatment will prevent contamination of water bodies, mitigating adverse environmental effects. The initiative will also foster a circular economy in the region, as the reuse of treated water will serve as a new resource for agricultural and industrial applications in an area facing significant water scarcity.
Additionally, the project aims to stimulate economic growth in the Chincha region by creating jobs during the phases of construction, operation, and maintenance. The enhancement of sanitation infrastructure is expected to attract further investments, bolstering the local economy.
This initiative marks the start of Aqualia’s operational journey in Peru, reinforcing its presence on the American continent. Aqualia currently oversees the complete water cycle in eight departments in Colombia, serving 1.4 million residents across 32 municipalities. The company has executed the Salitre WWTP project in Bogotá, which caters to more than 3 million people. In Mexico, Aqualia is involved in all aspects of the water cycle (collection, supply, treatment, and desalination) across various regions.
Over the past year, Aqualia has been focused on enhancing potable water network management in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, a major tourist destination. In Chile, the company has been managing an industrial water facility for a leading mining corporation for a decade. In the United States, Aqualia has been responsible for water management in the metropolitan area of Houston, Texas, since January 2024.
Aqualia is a water management entity owned by the citizen services group FCC (51%) and the ethical Australian fund IFM Investors (49%). It ranks as the fourth largest water company in Europe by population served and the ninth largest globally, according to the latest Global Water Intelligence ranking (December 2024).
The company currently serves over 45 million users and operates in 18 countries, including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Chile, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the United States, France, Georgia, Italy, Mexico, Oman, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
Source :Aqualia
